NEWSLETTER
Gala, Dinner Show and Fundraiser Planned for February 18th
Lake Placid Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games February 13-23, 2020
Lake Placid, N.Y. – On February 18, 2020, members of the 1980 Olympic Figure Skating Team return to the Lake Placid Olympic Center and Olympic Oval to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the XIII Olympic Winter Games.
Olympic 1984 gold medalist and 1980 Team USA Olympic Flag Bearer, Scott Hamilton will host the day’s events that start with a 10 a.m. press-breakfast at the Convention Center. This is followed by a 3 p.m. charity skate-a-thon and culminating with an evening gala and dinner at 7 p.m. and show in the Olympic Center, at 8 p.m.
Morning Press Breakfast
The celebration begins at 10 a.m. in the Lake Placid Convention Center with a press event making available the Olympians of the historic 1980 figure skating team many have called “The Dream Team.” Skaters include, Hamilton, Linda Fratianne, Charles Tickner, Tai Babilonia, David Santee, Sandy Lenz Jackson, Caitlin Carruthers Conrad, Sheryl Franks and Michael Botticelli, Lisa-Marie Allen and Stacey Smith.
Additionally, U.S. champions Ryan Bradley, Ashley Cain- Gribble and Tim LeDuc, along with Madison Chock and Evan Bates will also be on hand to answer questions from the press and celebrate the importance Lake Placid holds in the world of figure skating. Immediately following the press event, there will be a dedication and raising of a commemorative banner that will hang from the Herb Brooks Arena.
Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™
At 3 p.m. on the Lake Placid Olympic Oval, Hamilton will lead community members in a Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ event. This “Frozen 5K” skate-a-thon is the signature fundraiser of the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 c (3) dedicated to changing the future of cancer funding, research and patient care. The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation has held over 70 Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ events that have raised over $1-million.
“All my life I’ve learned so many lessons from skating, but nothing quite compares to the joy I see on the faces of participants as they raise peer-to-peer funding by skating the Frozen 5K,” said Hamilton. “And what better place to celebrate breakthroughs than on the legendary Lake Placid Olympic Oval where Eric Heiden won a record five gold medals.”
The partner selected as the charity of choice for the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ event is Adirondack Health. A portion of the proceeds raised will be directed to help North Country patients travel for acute care related to their cancer diagnosis and treatment plan.
“Some cancer patients struggle with the costs to travel for second-opinions, surgery or radiation treatments outside the local area,” said Sylvia Getman, CEO of Adirondack Health. “We are thrilled to partner with the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation as this will undoubtedly help north country cancer patients.”
The Foundation’s event website is www.mysk8.org/LakePlacidNY2020.
40th Anniversary Figure Skating Gala and Dinner Show
The day will conclude at 7 p.m. with an evening Gala and dinner show entitled Dream On, The 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Figure Skating Reunion Gala. The show will feature live performances by current U.S. pair champions Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc, along with U.S. champion Ryan Bradley. The U.S. ice dance champions of Madison Chock and Evan Bates will also perform in tribute to the 1980 team. Other performances will include the Skating Club of Lake Placid.
The evening will also feature a multi-media presentation and discussion with the members of the U.S. 1980 Olympic Figure Skating Team, sharing their stories and experiences of 40 years ago.
“In a very special and intimate setting, we will be looking back at each of the four major events of the competition,” said Olympic Silver Medalist and ORDA Director of Sport, Paul Wylie. “We will be celebrating the personalities that lit up the 1980 Olympic Center and launched the entertainment we now know as figure skating.”
On-ice Gala Dinner Tickets are available for $980 per table or $125 per person. Corporate sponsorship tables are also available. Call 518-302-5397
General Admission Tickets for “Dream On” are $19.80 and are available at Tickets.com, by phone at 518-523-3330 and at the Olympic Center Box Office
40th Anniversary of the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games
The 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate Lake Placid’s rich Olympic legacy – past, present and future. From February 13-23, the two-time Olympic village is rolling out the welcome mat and his hosting a full slate of activities that will embody the Olympic spirit – from re-living the Opening Ceremony and cauldron lighting, ice skating around the historic Olympic Oval, to skiing with Olympic athletes.
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ABOUT SCOTT HAMILTON CARES FOUNDATION
The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 c (3) dedicated to changing the future of cancer by funding advanced, innovative research that treats the cancer while sparing the patient. For more information on the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and its Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ program, visit www.scottcares.org
ABOUT ORDA
Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.
Contact: Jon Lundin | JLundin@orda.org | (518) 523-1655